WONDER FEST SOARS AS OVER 4,000 FANS CELEBRATE HISTORIC FIRST FESTIVAL ON THE RUNWAY AT WONDERBOOM NATIONAL AIRPORT
The inaugural Wonder Fest made a powerful debut this past weekend as over 4,000 festival-goers gathered at Wonderboom National Airport for a historic day-to-night celebration of music, culture, food and fashion on the airport runway.
Held on Saturday, 7 March 2026, the first-ever Wonder Fest transformed the airport tarmac into a vibrant cultural destination under the theme “The Flight Experience – Not Flying, But Elevating Culture.” The festival brought together the energy of live music, the beloved Wonder Market, curated food vendors and lifestyle experiences, creating a unique festival environment that celebrated Tshwane’s creative spirit.
The event also marked a significant milestone for the airport itself. During the celebrations, City of Tshwane MMC for Roads & Transport, Cllr Tlangi Mogale, addressed the crowd and officially highlighted that Wonder Fest launches the 90-year legacy celebration of Wonderboom National Airport, one of the city’s most important public assets.
Speaking at the event, Cllr Mogale expressed appreciation to the many stakeholders who contributed to the festival’s success.
“We extend our sincere appreciation to airport management, the event organisers, emergency services, law enforcement and community partners who collaborated to make this event possible. Wonder Fest is a powerful demonstration of how the legacy of Wonderboom National Airport can continue to support local traders while allowing visitors to experience the aviation and cultural offering of this unique venue. We warmly welcome the artists, performers and musicians who joined us here in the City of Tshwane – particularly at Wonderboom National Airport – as part of launching this important milestone celebration.”
She further emphasised the city’s broader vision for the airport and its role in local development.
“The City of Tshwane reaffirms a clear strategic intent to harness public assets to drive inclusive economic growth, strengthen social cohesion and expand access to opportunities in both the aviation and creative economies. Wonderboom National Airport is an important public asset and a driver of local development. As the largest general aviation airport in South Africa by traffic volume, it has for decades hosted airshows, trade exhibitions, skills programmes and international competitions that bring visitors, investment and visibility to Tshwane.”
The festival delivered an electrifying lineup of performances from some of South Africa’s most respected artists, including DJ Maphorisa, Sun-El Musician, Mörda, Vigro Deep, Ms Cosmo, Transmicsoul, Silly Bean, and Kyotic DJ, with the day expertly hosted by Mpumi Landan and Mfana Gogo.
One of the most unforgettable highlights of the day came when rising star Shandesh made a dramatic entrance by helicopter, touching down at the airport as her hit track Chopper played to a roaring crowd – a moment that perfectly captured the festival’s aviation-inspired theme.
Throughout the day, fans experienced a vibrant mix of music, fashion expression, food experiences and lifestyle culture, while local traders and vendors benefited from the strong turnout, further reinforcing Wonder Fest’s vision of creating a platform that celebrates community participation and creative entrepreneurship.
The inaugural edition of Wonder Fest was proudly supported by leading partners including Courvoisier, Flying Fish, Graham Beck, Vuse, Gordon’s Gin, Johnnie Walker and Red Bull, whose support helped bring the immersive festival experience to life.
Wonder Fest has firmly positioned itself as a bold new cultural moment for Tshwane – one that merges aviation heritage with contemporary music, food and fashion culture, setting the stage for what promises to become a continued celebration in the capital.
As the city begins commemorating 90 years of Wonderboom National Airport, the launch of Wonder Fest signals a new chapter for the historic venue – one that continues to connect people, culture and opportunity in the heart of Tshwane.
